Cupra Born VZ due in Australia in 2025, Born range passes 1000 sales

March: Cupra Born VZ confirmed for Australia

Following news of the Cupra Born EV range passing 1000 sales in Australia since launching last year, the brand has now confirmed it is expecting to launch the hero VZ model here in 2025.

It's a long wait – not an uncommon story for VW's EVs in Australia – but fans are likely to be pleased when it does at last arrive.

As we outlined in February (see our earlier story below), the Born VZ offers 240kW and 545Nm to deliver a 0-100km/h time of 5.7 seconds.

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The VZ retains the rear-wheel drive layout of the regular range, but benefits from new springs and dampers for the rear suspension, updated settings for the front damper valves, and strengthened anti-roll bars.

Pricing is still to be revealed, but with the current model already starting from $59,990, the hero could arrive with a price much closer to $70,000 – assuming the regular model doesn't get a price cut to make space.

What about...

There's also the Born VZ's under-the-skin twin, the VW ID.3 GTX, unveiled this week with the same outputs (in GTX Performance tune). Local plans for that model haven't been made official, but the brand has made clear it wants the GTX to headline Australia's ID.3 range.

Mike Stevens

February: Cupra Born BZ revealed

The Cupra Born VZ has been unveiled as an electric hot-hatch with 240kW, sharpened dynamics, yet also a longer range.

Cupra's new flagship Born features a slightly bigger 79kWh battery and a more powerful rear electric motor compared with the regular hatch that was released in May 2023.

VZ stands for 'Veloz', Spanish for 'fast', and the badge brings 41 per cent more power and 76 per cent more torque than the standard model: 240kW and 545Nm.

Volkswagen's Spanish brand says the VZ will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.7 seconds, notably quicker than the current Born's 7.0sec time.

Top speed increased from 160km/h to 200km/h.

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Cupra says the bigger, improved battery also helps deliver a longer range of 570km versus 511km for the regular Born (on 19-inch wheels), though the figure is yet to be officially homologated.

To ensure the Born VZ handles like a hot-hatch, the company has upgraded the chassis extensively.

There are new springs and dampers for the rear suspension, updated settings for the front damper valves, and the anti-roll bars have been beefed up.

A new steering set-up aims for sportier response and revised brakes are said to bring a stronger feel.

Wheels are slightly wider and come in a choice of 20-inch sizes - with forged-alloy rims or 3D copper inserts - and are wrapped in wider, high-performance tyres.

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Cabin highlights for the VZ include CUP bucket seats, a new 12.9-inch digital infotainment display that's also larger than the regular Born's 12.0-inch screen, while new options include a Sennheiser audio system.

A couple of exterior-palette additions are Dark Forest (pictured) and Midnight Black.

Cupra Australia is keen to bring the Born VZ down-under, though an arrival before 2025 is unlikely.

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“Born is one of the key parts of our lineup and this next iteration of our exciting rear-wheel drive hot hatchback is something we are looking at very closely for Australia," said a spokesperson for the brand.

It's likely to cost more than a $70,590 235kW Volkswagen Golf R, with the standard Born currently priced from $59,990.

The Born last year became the first fully electric car from the Cupra brand that launched in Australia in 2022. It was the second-most popular Cupra here last year with 887 registrations, contributing to global sales in excess of 45,000.

The Formentor crossover (2108 sales in 2023) is the most popular Cupra locally.

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